Hangin’ Shot
I mentioned this in an earlier post, but wanted to show it in photos to make clear what I was discussing. This is a tactic that my friend, Dr. Gary Eaton, uses when fishing minnow imitations on the spring creeks of Missouri and other streams with a gravel bottom. The shot is attached to the tag end of the knot used to connect the fly to the leader. An overhand knot is tied in the tag end so that the shot doesn’t slip off. He keeps the tag end short, usually 1/2 inch to 1 inch long. It’s nearly impossible to tie an overhand knot in such a short piece of leader material, so I thread the fly onto the leader, tie the overhand knot in the end of the tippet, and then tie the knot that attaches the fly to the leader. The shot can then be hung under the nose of the fly with ease.
The fly is fished right on the bottom so that the shot bumps and bounces over the gravel, giving the fly a most enticing action. It works great with any fly, but is particularly effective with sculpin and stickleback imitations.
Thread the leader through the eye of the fly and then tie a knot in the end of the tippet.
Tie the knot attaching the fly to the leader, and clamp on the shot.
Dr. Borger,
Now, my secret is out! This works especially well on clean, uniform gravel shallows adjacent to a holding lie (undercut bank, log, etc.) I find it solid for nearly any streamer. I have conjured lunkers onto salamander and crayfish imitations as well as those mentioned. I consider it the go-to method for certain smallmouth venues in the Ozarks. I like a streamer set-up with a heavy sink-tip and green or dark tin shot.
Thanks for the credit,
Gary Eaton, MCI
Addition – The removable split shot you depict is favored for its tendency to “stick” and “skitter” in almsot any gravel density. The streamer or large nymph rotating around the anchored shot entices some very large, and wise fish. There are defintie advantages to using the shot with “ears”. This includes an acoustic focus with the ticking weight and “stick’ retained even in coarse to medium sand. – Gary Eaton, MCI
Interesting idea, but what is the main advantage of this approach vs. a shot applied on the tippet shortly above the fly?
Hi John, First, the shot does not modify the look of the fly by riding back against the eye. Second. the head of the fly swings around on the “lead line” that the short tag creates. It does give the fly a different look in the water. I’ve used a tag up to several inches in length to keep the fly up off the bottom but jigging at the same time. It’s jigging appearance is different than if the shot is hung on the tippet. See also Gary Eaton’s comments. Best, GB